How fast are the top d1 5k/10k/XC runners in the 800?

Faaast wrote:

Now how about a somewhat related question. Has there ever been a d1 XC national race where someone closed sub 2 for final 800?

What are some of the fastest final 800s in the 5k/10k at track nationals?

Not sure if anyone has closed an XC race in sub-2 for 800, but that is very different from the track. Just looking at a sample year of NCAA track results (2015), the top 7 in the 5000 all closed in under 2:00 for the last 800. Cheserek closed in 1:55.93, and Jenkins was almost as quick.

I'd bet the middle 50 percent of 800 times for runners in an NCAA D1 XC Championship race would range from about 1:51-1:54 on the track. Most of the top 25 percent would probably fall somewhere between 1:48-1:51, with a few outliers faster.

On a side note, it would be pretty entertaining to see the whole NCAA XC field race 800 meters on a cross country course! It would need to be a very wide start/course/finish (and probably on a straightaway to be anything close to resembling a fair contest) - but interesting to imagine.

if only there were a way to look this up

Faaaast wrote:

800m to 8000m XC wrote:

It took me five seconds to look up Mike Saruni, UTEP. A 1:43.xx 800m man and a 24:13 8K XC person. I do not have the time to look through the results on Athletic.net; I am sure there is a 1:46.xx 800m man who fits your top category for 8K/10K XC. Interesting how your definition of top got defined after a dozen posts.

I thought the definition of top d1 5k/10k/ XC runner was clear enough in the thread title.

This discussion isn’t about how fast a top collegiate 800m runner can race an 8k. 24:xx 8k isn’t a top 8k time.

This is about how fast a top d1 distance runner can race an 800.

If you do not wanted a broadened discussion, if you only want specific 800m performances, for as you now say top ten distance runners, smart ass, you could have just looked up 800m PB for top ten distance runners on your own.

I think he wants to know how fast they could run an 800, not how fast they have run. There is a difference because most top distance guys haven’t run an 800 lately. I agree with some of the other posters. Guys like Fischer, McDonald, McGorty, Ches, Hoare, Jenkins, and Knight were/are some of the most dangerous distance runners. I imagine that they could all run 1:47.

Predictor wrote:

I think he wants to know how fast they could run an 800, not how fast they have run. There is a difference because most top distance guys haven’t run an 800 lately. I agree with some of the other posters. Guys like Fischer, McDonald, McGorty, Ches, Hoare, Jenkins, and Knight were/are some of the most dangerous distance runners. I imagine that they could all run 1:47.

Nice try. We are what we race. We can say if I raced distance X under different conditions I would race distance X slightly faster. In 2018, NCAA D1, D2 & D3 there were only 13 men sub-1:47 (outdoor) according to Athletic.net. If any of the fellas could race any time close to 1:47 their coaches would have given them an opportunity in a small meet sometime while they were in college.

no stats wrote:

I would guess something like 90% of D1 XC runners can run 1:55-1:57

Ha! Do you know how many bad/mediocre D1 runners there are? Less than half of all D1 XC runners could do this. Plenty of D1 XC runners never even broke 2:00 as high schoolers, even some decent runners on mid-pack teams.

Noso wrote:

no stats wrote:

I would guess something like 90% of D1 XC runners can run 1:55-1:57

Ha! Do you know how many bad/mediocre D1 runners there are? Less than half of all D1 XC runners could do this. Plenty of D1 XC runners never even broke 2:00 as high schoolers, even some decent runners on mid-pack teams.

Again this discussion isn’t about those “d1” teams, it’s about the top d1 runners.

There have been some good answers about these distance guys even with 1:50 speed focusing on events where they will have the biggest chance for a national title. I also like the idea of a 800m cross country race with 100+ competitors.

Now for another question-

Collegiate 1:50 800m specialists are a dime a dozen. Why arent those guys doing longer distance training and racing? Even if the runners themselves don’t want to move up, why aren’t coaches making them move up to a level where that speed will help them compete for a national title?

I ran with several All American 10k guys. One of them who ran 29:xx only ran a sub-60 quarter ONE TIME in his whole college career. The dude could run 66s all freaking day but almost never a 59 quarter.

Another great athlete who ultimately ran a 13:20 a few years after college at Mt Sac was good for about a 1:56 with no specific 800 training.

Provide names. We can al provide fake information to back up our arguments. I ascert that the best 5k guys can all break 1:50. Ches broke it in HS so he could have gone much faster in college. Rupp ran 1:49 indoor in college. Webb ran 1:47 in HS and he didn’t end up focusing on the 800 as an earlier poster said every 1:47 runner should do. Hall ran 1:51 in HS and went on to run 2:04 for the marathon. Solo sky ran 1:55 in HS and ended being the American record holder in the 10k. Mcgorty ran 1:53 in HS and was the ncaa Champ in the 5k. Where do people think the stud distance runners come from if not from former 800 turned miler turned distance guy?

I know a sub 29:30 10km man who has not broken 2:00 despite multiple attempts

Can 100 percent confirm that this is not true. Our top 5 could probably all go sub 2 or close but our 6-7 have no chance.

D2 fella here. In the 2017 indoor season Sydney Gidbuday ran 1.52 in the 800m the day after running a 4.01 mile. He would go on to run 13.3X and 29.0X that outdoorn season. He also finished 4th at D2 XC that season.